Long Beach Councilman James Johnson to hold hearing on Wilmington railyard proposal

Recently, Seventh District Long Beach Councilman James Johnson requested the Port of Los Angeles hold a public hearing in West Long Beach to discuss the proposed railyard project that would be built on the Los Angeles border.

The Port declined, so Johnson will hold his own hearing to allow residents in the community that is most impacted to give their input on the record, he said.

"A core part of the democratic process is the right of residents to be heard on projects that may affect them," Johnson said.

A revised environmental impact report was recently released for a rail facility on the border of Long Beach and Los Angeles, Johnson said.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe wants to build the 153-acre Southern California International Gateway Railyard in Wilmington near the Terminal Island (103) Freeway, south of Sepulveda Boulevard, north of Pacific Coast Highway and east of Alameda Street.

The proposed $500 million railyard would pass by five schools, a day care center and homeless housing for veterans, opponents say.

Some of the neighborhoods that would be most affected are in West Long Beach, an area that already experiences unusually high asthma and other health problems.

"Given the significant potential impacts of this proposed project on the health and well-being of Long Beach neighborhoods, I have decided Long Beach will move forward to host a community meeting on the project."

The meeting will be held 6 p.m., November 7 at Silverado Park. The Port of Los Angeles has been invited to present the project to the community, Johnson said.

"All comments received at the meeting will be transcribed and formally sent to the Port of Los Angeles for a response," Johnson said.